Laughing Dove vs Ring-Necked Dove

Laughing Dove

Spilopelia senegalensis

Also known as: Senegal Dove, Little Brown Dove

How to recognise a laughing dove?

General appearance

Laughing doves are small birds with a long tail, identifiable by their warm brown-grey blush, distinctive scalloped collars, and a rufous hue in their feathers. They are the epitome of soothing aesthetics with blush-pink necks, blending into an ashy-grey mantle and a pale greyish belly. Their red-rimmed eyes are a key feature.

Male vs female

Males and females look very similar, making them difficult to distinguish. However, males tend to be slightly larger and may have a more vibrant collar around their neck, while females appear paler and smaller.

Juvenile

Juvenile laughing doves exhibit less contrast compared to adults. They feature a poorly developed collar and a lighter brown grey shade. As they grow older, their feathers will darken and the collar will become more distinct.

Size

9.1 - 10.6 in/2.5 - 3.2 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The Laughing Dove typically resides in arid areas such as deserts and semi-deserts, farmlands, open woodlands, and urban areas in parts of Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent.

Additional range

Extraordinarily, this species has adapted to a wide variety of conditions and can also be found in unexpected environments like city centres and even high-altitude areas of up to 2000 meters.

Range Map

What do laughing doves like to eat?

Natural diet

The laughing dove primarily feeds on a variety of seeds from grasses and plants. It is known to forage on the ground, searching for seeds from weeds, cereals, and small plants. In addition to seeds, the diet includes small insects, such as termites and beetles, as well as small quantities of fruits and berries, which supplement its nutrition.

Bird feeders

At bird feeders, laughing doves commonly consume a variety of grains and seeds, particularly those found in typical seed mixes. They are fond of millet, cracked corn, and sunflower seeds. The doves may also eat bread crumbs or small cereal pieces, which are sometimes offered at feeders, although their primary preference remains seeds and grains.

What does a laughing dove sound like?

The laughing dove produces a series of low pitched, rhythmic cooing sounds, typically characterized by the iconic "coo-oo, coo, coo, coo". Its name comes from the distinctive 'laughing' sound intrinsic to its regular call. Its song, often heard at dawn and dusk, is a repetitious cooing sequence, generally considered soothing and pleasant. Apart from these, when alarmed, it also produces a short and abrupt "wo-wo-wo" sound.

Call

Audio by MRG90

/ CC BY-SA 4.0

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Ring-Necked Dove

Streptopelia capicola

Also known as: Cape Turtle Dove, Half-Collared Dove

How to recognise a ring-necked dove?

General appearance

The ring-necked dove, often also called the Cape turtle dove or half-collared dove, stands out with its soft grey-beige plumage, underlined by a thin, black neck ring. Adults are around 25-26.5 cm in length and have broad, bright white edges on their long, pointed tail feathers. It has black eyes, red feet and legs, plus a black beak.

Male vs female

Male and female ring-necked doves look incredibly alike, both sporting the same, pale grey-brown coloration and diagnostic black ring around their neck. Subtle differences are noted in size, with males being slightly larger and usually exhibiting more robust neck rings, compared to the narrower band seen on the females.

Juvenile

Juvenile ring-necked doves possess an overall grey color, more washed out than the adults, and lack the distinctive neck ring. Their bill is more greyish, gradually turning to black as they mature, and their eye color is initially a dull brown, later changing to their iconic black. The tail feathers are also less pointy in their younger years.

Size

9.8 - 10.4 in/3.7 - 7.1 oz

Habitat

Primary habitat

The ring-necked dove predominantly inhabits South Africa. It prefers Savannas, subtropical forests, moist woodlands, and semi-desert regions.

Additional range

Additionally, it has shown resilience occupying non-traditional areas such as urban and suburban environments, adapting well to the presence of humans.

Range Map

What do ring-necked doves like to eat?

Natural diet

The ring-necked dove primarily feeds on a diet composed of seeds, which are a major component. They also consume small fruits and berries when available in their natural habitats. The birds forage mostly on the ground, picking up seeds from grasses and other plants. They occasionally eat small insects and snails, supplementing their diet with protein, especially when breeding.

Bird feeders

At bird feeders, ring-necked doves are commonly attracted to grains and seeds. They tend to favor millet, cracked corn, and sunflower seeds, which are regularly offered in birdseed mixes. These birds are ground feeders, so platform feeders or scattered seed on the ground is ideal for attracting them to backyard feeding stations.

What does a ring-necked dove sound like?

The ring-necked dove typically vocalizes a delicate, mournful, cooing song consisting of five parts - coo-COO-coo, followed by a pause, then a final coo-COO. Its call, a soft 'hoo', is often mistaken for an owl. Males use these melodic calls to establish territory or attract mates, especially during breeding season. Interactions between doves can lead to a variety of other unique cooing patterns.

Call

Audio by MilesWelsh

/ CC BY-SA 3.0

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Laughing Dove

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Ring-Necked Dove

Laughing Dove

Spilopelia senegalensis

Also known as: Senegal Dove, Little Brown Dove

General appearance

Laughing doves are small birds with a long tail, identifiable by their warm brown-grey blush, distinctive scalloped collars, and a rufous hue in their feathers. They are the epitome of soothing aesthetics with blush-pink necks, blending into an ashy-grey mantle and a pale greyish belly. Their red-rimmed eyes are a key feature.

Male vs female

Males and females look very similar, making them difficult to distinguish. However, males tend to be slightly larger and may have a more vibrant collar around their neck, while females appear paler and smaller.

Juvenile

Juvenile laughing doves exhibit less contrast compared to adults. They feature a poorly developed collar and a lighter brown grey shade. As they grow older, their feathers will darken and the collar will become more distinct.

Size

9.1 - 10.6 in/2.5 - 3.2 oz

There's more to learn about Laughing Dove

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Ring-Necked Dove

Streptopelia capicola

Also known as: Cape Turtle Dove, Half-Collared Dove

General appearance

The ring-necked dove, often also called the Cape turtle dove or half-collared dove, stands out with its soft grey-beige plumage, underlined by a thin, black neck ring. Adults are around 25-26.5 cm in length and have broad, bright white edges on their long, pointed tail feathers. It has black eyes, red feet and legs, plus a black beak.

Male vs female

Male and female ring-necked doves look incredibly alike, both sporting the same, pale grey-brown coloration and diagnostic black ring around their neck. Subtle differences are noted in size, with males being slightly larger and usually exhibiting more robust neck rings, compared to the narrower band seen on the females.

Juvenile

Juvenile ring-necked doves possess an overall grey color, more washed out than the adults, and lack the distinctive neck ring. Their bill is more greyish, gradually turning to black as they mature, and their eye color is initially a dull brown, later changing to their iconic black. The tail feathers are also less pointy in their younger years.

Size

9.8 - 10.4 in/3.7 - 7.1 oz

There's more to learn about Ring-Necked Dove

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How to tell the Laughing Dove from the Ring-Necked Dove

Visual differences

The Laughing Dove is smaller, weighing 2.5-3.2 oz (23-27 cm long), with a warm brown-grey plumage. It features a distinctive scalloped collar and a rufous hue, with blush-pink necks and red-rimmed eyes. In contrast, the Ring-Necked Dove is larger, weighing 3.7-7 oz (25-26.5 cm long), displaying soft grey-beige plumage and a thin black neck ring. It has broad, bright white edges on its tail feathers, black eyes, and a black beak, creating a more contrasting appearance.

Key differences and behavior

Laughing Doves and Ring-Necked Doves, both adept at adapting to human environments, differ notably in behavior and habitat preferences. Laughing Doves prefer arid and semi-arid regions, whereas Ring-Necked Doves are typically found near water sources in savannas and subtropical forests. For courting, Laughing Doves engage in chest-puffing and soft cooing, compared to the vocal coos and acrobatics of Ring-Necked Doves. In feeding, both species primarily consume seeds, but Laughing Doves may also eat insects more frequently while Ring-Necked Doves feed near ground and include snails when breeding. Lastly, Ring-Necked Doves are heavier (3.7–7.1 oz) and are slightly longer (9.8–10.4 in) than Laughing Doves (2.5–3.2 oz, 9.1–10.6 in), influencing their respective energetic displays.